The Bingel Laboratory
Prof. Dr. Ulrike Bingel and her research group focuses on the interaction between pain and cognitive processes. We have a longstanding expertise in investigating the CNS mechanisms underlying nociception, pain, and pain modulation in health and disease. In our research, we use behavioural paradigms, pharmacological modulations, as well as functional and structural brain imaging. Being particularly intrigued by the reciprocal effects of pain and cognition, we have a strong focus on translational questions such as the role of expectations and prior experiences on analgesic treatment outcomes. Our interdisciplinary research group comprises neurologists, neuroscientists, psychologists, biologists, and computer scientists and is based at the Department of Neurology at the University Medicine Essen. We are affiliated with the Erwin-L-Hahn institute for magnetic resonance imaging and the Translational Pain Research Department of the University Pain Center. Our research is funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.
Recent News
In a collaboration with Tamas Spisak’s lab, we show a predictive model based on brain connectivity that explains individual differences in pain learning and shows promise as a biomarker in translational pain research. Read the full article here.
Become a part of the Bingellab: We are looking for a motivated Postdoc in Essen! Topic: Cognitive modulators of pain and analgesia in health and chronic pain as part of the CRC/TRR 289. Methods: Functional/structural MRI and pharmacology. More information here.
On the 25th of April, two boys interested in science spent the day in the lab for Boys Day. We had lots of fun with the rubberhand illusion, information about studying medicine and doing science at the same time, talking about transcranial magnetic stimulation, crafting brain helmets out of paper, and measuring pain with the cold pressor task.
Receiving touch is of critical importance, as many studies have shown that touch promotes mental and physical well-being. But what is the current status quo of research? Which moderators contribute to positive effects of touch on mental and physical health? Helena Hartmann, together with collaborators from Amsterdam and Bochum, published a systematic review and multivariate meta-analysis of the physical and mental health benefits of touch interventions. Read the study published in Nature Human Behaviour here.
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